Various Networks, 3:00 p.m. ET
The second weekend of postseason NFL play concludes today with two more games, starting at slightly weird times – 3 and 6:30 p.m. ET – but definitely worth seeking out. The first game, on CBS, pits the top-ranked Kansas City Chiefs against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are in the playoffs for the first time in 18 years, and last week mounted a stunning upset against the Pittsburgh Steelers to face the dominant Chiefs today. And the second game, on Fox, features the New Orleans Saints vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which is a quarterback duel for the ages: Drew Brees on the side of the Saints, and Tom Brady leading the Bucs.
CBS, 7:00 p.m. ET
There are two nonfiction TV series that should be considered mandatory viewing today – and this week in particular, on the cusp of a change of presidential administrations. One is tonight’s newsmagazine 60 Minutes on CBS…
Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET
… And the other is this new edition of the political documentary series The Circus, which, as with last week’s episode, should prove absolutely eye-opening with its behind-the-scenes details.
PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET
MINISERIES PREMIERE: Kate Phillips, who played Linda Shelby in
Peaky Blinders, stars as Eliza Scarlet, the first female detective in Victorian London. The Duke in the title is a Scotland Yard inspector, William “The Duke” Wellington, played by Stuart Martin. Think of their relationship as a sort of early British
Moonlighting. And off we go…
Check local listings. For a full review, see Mike Hughes' Open Mike.
CW, 8:00 p.m. ET
SEASON PREMIERE: This is more a note than a recommendation. It’s only because the Marvel Universe just unveiled its newest TV series, WandaVision, on Disney+ on Friday, pushing boundaries and introducing a bold, still mysterious, new narrative. On the other hand, the DC Comics universe is presenting here the Season 2 premiere of Batwoman – which instead of moving forward with exciting initiative, is struggling to keep going at all. Last season’s central star and character, Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, have been written out of the series, with a new actress and character, Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder, donning the Batwoman suit (pictured). Yet other characters remain, including last year’s villainess, Alice (Rachel Skarsten), whose relationship with last season’s Batwoman was literally a sibling rivalry. But that was so last year…
HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET
DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE: Part 2 of 2. Last week’s first half of this documentary covered the rise of Tiger Woods, and his astounding sweep of the four major pro golf tournaments in a row. But it ended with the death of Tiger’s influential father, Earl, and suggested strongly that tonight’s conclusion would be more revelatory than laudatory. Especially on the personal home front. Part 1 ended with Woods’ infamous mistress, Rachel Uchitel, taking a seat in front of the documentary camera and asking, “Okay, so what do you want me to talk about?” Tonight, she talks (pictured).
Showtime, 9:00 p.m. ET
This week, another highlights package of sorts – this one focused on one of this series’ very best actors, Jeremy Allen White as “Lip” Gallagher. His growth over this series’ lengthy run has been as impressive from an acting standpoint as from a physical one. Here’s an actor, and character, who have matured significantly over the years.
Showtime, 10:00 p.m. ET
The two main characters of this series, Bryan Cranston’s Michael Desiato and Michael Stuhlbarg’s Jimmy Baxter (pictured), finally met at the end of last week’s episode. The former is a judge, the latter a mobster, and they met at gunpoint. That the mobster was holding the gun was no surprise. That he fired it, point blank, at the end of the episode, that was much less expected. But he wasn’t aiming at the judge at the time, so don’t worry. Or do worry, because someone did die – and the judge, like the mobster, is deep in the thick of it.